DIOCESE OF EASTERN AMERICA AND NEW YORK: May 9, 2009Bishop Jerome Celebrates the Divine Liturgy of Saint Mark in New York City (Photo-report)

On May 9, 2009, His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan served the ancient Divine Liturgy of St Mark for the first time ever in the English language at St Sergius Chapel, the lower church in the Synodal building in New York City. Concelebrating clergy included Fr Joakim Pravatakis (Rector of the chapel’s English-speaking St Sergius Mission), Fr George Lardas, Fr John Magramm, Fr Theodore Shevzov, Fr Joasaph McLellan, and Protodeacon Nicholas Mokhoff and Fr Kevin Kalish.

The Liturgy of St Mark was beautifully directed by St Sergius Mission’s choir director, Joanna Smith, with assistance from many talented visiting singers. Additional help preparing the music for the service was provided by Eugenia Temidis, Serge Chidlowsky, Carol Surgent, and Peter Fekula. During the reading of the hours, His Grace Bishop Jerome ordained Simeon Richard to the rank of reader.

After the service, Fr Joasaph gave an informative lecture on the activities of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.